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| Click here to start living braver! |
If a short glance at the cover of this book starts
your insides buzzing, or if your immediate response is to grab a dish rag,
spatula, piping bag and start color-matching the icing to fix that atrocious
“problem” you might enjoy and benefit from reading The Cure for the Perfect Life: 12 Ways to Stop Trying Harder and Start Living Braver.
your insides buzzing, or if your immediate response is to grab a dish rag,
spatula, piping bag and start color-matching the icing to fix that atrocious
“problem” you might enjoy and benefit from reading The Cure for the Perfect Life: 12 Ways to Stop Trying Harder and Start Living Braver.
If your first reaction is to lick the cover and see
what the frosting tastes like, you can probably pass on this book.
what the frosting tastes like, you can probably pass on this book.
I fall into the first group.
I have a predisposition to neurosis when things
aren’t “right.” As a child I always wanted to start projects
that were way too complicated, and when nothing turned out as I’d pictured, I was
terribly frustrated and would quit.
aren’t “right.” As a child I always wanted to start projects
that were way too complicated, and when nothing turned out as I’d pictured, I was
terribly frustrated and would quit.
This carried on into my young adulthood. Violin
recitals were NEVER—not once—perfect. That only fueled my pre-performance
nerves for the next year which ultimately ended with another imperfect recital.
recitals were NEVER—not once—perfect. That only fueled my pre-performance
nerves for the next year which ultimately ended with another imperfect recital.
Nothing was ever right enough.
That thinking followed me into marriage and, as you
can imagine, I was a real gem. Incidentally, Kurt also likes to get things
right. What neither of us was willing to concede was that there is often more
than one “right” way.
can imagine, I was a real gem. Incidentally, Kurt also likes to get things
right. What neither of us was willing to concede was that there is often more
than one “right” way.
Fast forward to motherhood and all those things I
couldn’t get right enough…and let’s just say Kurt’s a patient man and my boys
were (prayerfully) too young to remember.
couldn’t get right enough…and let’s just say Kurt’s a patient man and my boys
were (prayerfully) too young to remember.
But three boys in three years just about
cured me of my “perfect life syndrome.”
cured me of my “perfect life syndrome.”
Just about. But not quite.
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| If ever a picture was worth a thousand words… |
I had the privilege of contributing a little story
to this book. It’s the story of a little “aha!” moment when I discovered “perfection”
isn’t a worthy pursuit.
to this book. It’s the story of a little “aha!” moment when I discovered “perfection”
isn’t a worthy pursuit.
Truthfully, I’m still discovering it.
As a contributor I received an advanced copy and
enjoyed reading it this weekend. The authors describe these four vices as the “P
Bullies:” Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, Performancism, and Procrastination.
enjoyed reading it this weekend. The authors describe these four vices as the “P
Bullies:” Perfectionism, People-Pleasing, Performancism, and Procrastination.
Kathi and Cheri expose each one as a lying bully whose
only goal is to keep you sprinting on the treadmill of “Try Harder
Living” by continuously poking you with a sharp stick called fear. Fear of
failure. Fear of people’s opinions. Fear of not doing it
“right.”
only goal is to keep you sprinting on the treadmill of “Try Harder
Living” by continuously poking you with a sharp stick called fear. Fear of
failure. Fear of people’s opinions. Fear of not doing it
“right.”
The worst part is that the treadmill never stops,
and there is never any finality or satisfaction.
and there is never any finality or satisfaction.
The good news is that God’s infinite love for us can
change the motivations behind our actions. So instead of cowing to the “bullies”
in fear, we can stand up to them with tiny acts of rebellion motivated by love.
change the motivations behind our actions. So instead of cowing to the “bullies”
in fear, we can stand up to them with tiny acts of rebellion motivated by love.
Knowing I am perfectly loved by a Perfect Savoir frees me from fear-based decision making.
Because Jesus was perfect, He can offer me
His perfection in exchange for my sin.
Because Jesus pleased His Father, I can focus
on pleasing Him first.
Because Jesus loves me perfectly, I do not
have to perform for anyone.
And because fear is expelled by such great
love, I can stop procrastinating and do what His love compels me to do.
His perfection in exchange for my sin.
Because Jesus pleased His Father, I can focus
on pleasing Him first.
Because Jesus loves me perfectly, I do not
have to perform for anyone.
And because fear is expelled by such great
love, I can stop procrastinating and do what His love compels me to do.
The Cure for the Perfect Life releases this Friday, August 1 and is available
locally at Prairie Pages Booksellers or online at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
locally at Prairie Pages Booksellers or online at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Glad to have you on this journey toward braver living and thank you for your insights today.
My pleasure! It has been fun. Thanks for stopping by 😉
family does cure us of expectations. I'm grateful to be on this journey with you Shauna.
Ahh, expectations… the evil accomplice of the "P bullies!!"
Bravo! Here's to #braverliving !
Indeed!
I'm right there with ya on the "right" way to do things. But I guess that's one of the things my autistic son has helped me with. His "right" changes frequently; therefore so must mine. #braverliving